verb

borrow

BO-roh

verb

To take or receive something temporarily, intending to give it back.

"Can I borrow your pen for a second?"

"She borrowed a large sum of money from the bank to buy the house."

To adopt an idea, word, or style from somewhere else and use it as your own.

"English has borrowed thousands of words from French."

How to Use Borrow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo take something temporarily with the intention of returning it, or to adopt an idea or word from elsewhere.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "borrow" (to take) with "lend" (to give) — "Can you lend me your pen?" not "Can you borrow me your pen?"

Easily confused with

lend →

Common pairings

borrow money borrow an idea borrow a word

Word Forms

borrowed past tense, borrow plural, borrowed plural, borrows plural, borrows plural, Borrows plural, borrows singular, borrow singular, borrowed singular, borrowest singular, borrowedst singular, borroweth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Can I _____ your pen for a second?

Etymology

From Old English "borgian" ("to lend, pledge, borrow"), related to the idea of taking care of or vouching for something — ultimately connected to the word "bury" in an older sense of "protect."

Synonyms

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Antonyms

give back lend return carry buy take

Related Words

barter take add kill buy give jerk catch

Rhymes for borrow

sorrow morrow tomorrow

See all rhymes for borrow →

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